Rail-joint



J. J. POWLICK.

RAIL JOINT A'PPLICATION man own. 1919.

1,342,065, Patented June 1, 1920.

U N I T D S T T RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed December 12, 1919. Serial No. 344,475.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. PowLIoK, a citizen of the United I States, residing at Clairton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention consists of an improvement in rail joints, and particularly in means for fixedly connecting the meeting ends of rails, whereby to hold them in alinement with each other, without theuse of connecting bolts or separable fish plates, or other similar devices. i

The invention consists generally in a onepiece integral connecting bar composed of a base portion, oppositely located side embracing portions extending inwardly to the web and upwardly underneath the head of the rail, the end portions of the device being extended lengthwise beyond the side por tions and constructed and adapted to operate in the manner more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, 7

Figural is a general plan view showing the device as used with the meeting ends of two adjacent rails;

j Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side eleva- 7 tion;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation, the rail being shown in section; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the device with the rails in position, in perspective.

In making my improved joint, which is preferably in the form of a single casting of steel or other suitable metal, I provide an under supporting base 2 which is extended upwardly at each side throughout its major middle portion, as indicated at 3-3, beyond which at each end, the base 2 is extended for a short distance, as indicated at 2 2". 4

By this construction, the main upper fiat seat portion of the base, upon which the flanges of the rails 4:4 are supported, is left plane throughout its entire width, and for a sufficient extent beyond the upwardly extending side members, for purposes hereinafter described.

The sides 3 are of ample cross section to provide sufiicient strength for the maintenance of the joint under the usual strains of traflic, and extend inwardly over the flanges 4, providing an intervening receiving cavity therefor, and abutting against the base por tion of the rail web, and also extending upwardly in the manner of an ordinary fish" plate into abutting engagement with the under sides of the head of the rail, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. By this means, the vertical supporting side members 55 are provided.

- For the purpose of reinforcing these side members and of bracing'them with relation plane of base 2, are sloped diagonally across 1 the ends of the joint member, as indicated at 7, and 8 respectively. The sloping edge 7 extends almost entirely across each end of the side portions, practically co-extensive with the width of the rail flanges 4,. the short sloping ends Sbeing in a'reverse direction, backwardly toward the opposite outer ed es.

y this construction, the diagonal line of width of the receivingcavity 'of the joint is somewhat greater. than the transverse width of the rail, and of the receiving cavity therefor, so that when either the railor the joint are to be telescopingly connected, in bringing the parts together, one or the other may be thrust around out of alinement, wherebyto present a somewhat wider opening for the rail than would be the case if the parts are brought together in the usual normal alinement. This construction facilitates the putting of the parts together in making the joint, and .is of very considerable advantage in saving time and trouble.

As shown, the wider portion of the exposed narrow edge of the base 2 at each diagonally opposite side portion, is provided with a spike receiving space 9-9, so that the base 2 and also the flange 4 of; each rail may betightly secured down upon th usual supporting ties 10-10.

In using the rail joint as thus made, the

outer end of the rail is slightly lifted from its loose position on the ties, the joint is introduced upon it, in the diagonal manner above described until the end of the rail is inserted in the receiving cavity, when it is then straightened around and thrust in .wardly of the rail for the desired distance.-

The joint with the rail may be then lowered upon the supporting ties and the end of the next adjacent rail may be introduced by its flange and web into the receiving cavity at the other end, straightened around, and then thrust into abutting contact with the end of the already secured rail, when the joint is completed and may be spiked down in position.

The construction as thus made is comparatively simple in manufacture, capable of being easily applied and used without the necessity of much'skill, and will operate to perform its intended functions in a continuous satisfactory 'manner. It provides for sufficient movement of the rails, should any movement be necessar 1 and avoids the necessityand objections of the usual bolts and fiat supporting base provided with a con tinuous plane bottom portion and a .continuous plane upper rail supporting portion from end to end, upwardly enlargedside portions extendingabove the edge portions of. the base and lnwardly and then upwardly thereof above its middle portion forming integral flanges and web embracing portlons and intervening space therebetween, reinforcing :braclng ribs thereon at opposite sides in non-registeringpositions,

the ends'of the upwardly extending side portions being sloplngly arranged across the rail receiving space with respect to the longitudinal center of the rail joint and terminating in short v reversely sloped faces at diagonally opposite corners, the terminals of all of said sloping faces being about equidistant from the several bracing ribs, the bottom portion of the rail'joint extending flush with the upwardly extending sides beyond said sloping faces and having at diagonally opposite positions an inwardly-extendingspike receiving recess adjacent the main sloping end portion of the joint, substantially as set forth.,

2.. In a rail join he combination W the adjacent ends, of .twameeting rails, of a one piece connecting -member consisting of an integral metal body portionhaving a main fiat supporting base provided with-a continuous plane bottom portion and a continuous plane upper rail supporting portion from end to end, upwardly enlarged side portions extending above'the edge'portions of the base and inwardly and then upwardly therefrom above its middle portion forming integral flange and web embracing portions engagingthe flanges, web and head of the rails, reinforcing bracing ribs at opt posite sides of said embracing portions in non-registering positions, the ends of the upwardly extending side portions being slopingly arranged across the side portions with respect to the longitudinal center of the rail joint and terminating in short reversely sloped faces at diagonally opposite corners, the terminals of all of said sloping faces being about equi-distant from the several bracing ribs, the bottom portion of-the rail joint extending flush with the upwardly xtending sides beyond said sloping faces and having at diagonally opposite positions an inwardly extending spike" receiving recess adjacent the main sloping end portion of: the joint whereby to provide for securing the base and rail by a spike tothe supporting tie, substantially as. set forth.

In testimony whereof l'hereunto aflixmy signature.

f JOHN omma 

